Sorry to sound stupid but could somebody please answer this for me. How come a tire for a 16" rim that is the same size say, 35x12.5, is cheaper than the same size tire for a 17" wheel. Isn't there actually less tire there since the sidwall is smaller? The rim is larger but the tire profile or hight is the same, there is actually less material so shouldn't the tire cost less??
Example;

Duratracs 305/70/R16....32.8x12...$258
285/70/R17....32.7x11...$280

Im confused?

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Jerv - I've always found that off myself, but I'm pretty sure it has to do with the manufacturing process driving the increased pricing....In other words, lower profile tires are much less common and so there aren't the same economies of scale that you'd find in some of the higher profile tires (15-16").

I'd imagine a lower profile tire also needs to have stronger sidewalls since it is low profile, I'd imagine that has something to do with it. Just guessing there though.

Jerv - I've always found that off myself, but I'm pretty sure it has to do with the manufacturing process driving the increased pricing....In other words, lower profile tires are much less common and so there aren't the same economies of scale that you'd find in some of the higher profile tires (15-16").

I'd imagine a lower profile tire also needs to have stronger sidewalls since it is low profile, I'd imagine that has something to do with it. Just guessing there though.

I thought maybe there was some thing to do with the sidewall, being that they need to do more to a shorter sidewall to make it a strong as a tire with taller sidewall.

__________________“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”